I Hate To Lecture You, But…

I don’t want to lecture you, I DON’T, but when you put your life in danger, I MUST.

As we get closer to the Rock and Roll Marathon, more folks are outside training. Runners, walkers, sprinters, woggers (it’s a term Husband uses: not quite walking, not quite jogging) and all those except bikers, please, I beg you, do your thang AGAINST traffic.

Against traffic means that you are facing oncoming traffic. You can see the faces of those who may not see you. Against traffic means that the vehicle’s front bumper is visible to you before their back bumper is visible to you. Again, you can see the faces of those who may not see you.

This is important because even though you can see them, it doesn’t mean they can see you, even if they appear to be looking right at you. Seeing them first gives you the opportunity to step, jump or dive out of the way of a potentially life-altering vehicle-to-person collision.

If you are doing your thang WITH traffic, then you have no opportunity to keep yourself safe.

Period.

I have been a runner since I was 10. I have had countless opportunities to step, jump and dive out of the way of harm while pounding the streets, minding my own beeswax. If it happens to me on a regular basis, it will happen to you.

In today’s cell-phone world, my experience is that drivers are more distracted than ever. I am constantly monitoring the cars headed my way. Are they veering or drifting in my direction? Do they see me? (I ALWAYS assume they don’t) Do I need to step, jump or dive? At least once a week, the answer to that last question is yes.

So please, I am begging you, get on the right side of the road (which will actually, physically, be the left side). Let’s all get to November in one piece.

(this concludes your lecture. please do not force me to have a shirt made that would lecture you as you pass, facing me. i think it would read in part: if you can read this….)